Thursday night, Robert Morris lost by 21 for a national TV audience at Mount St. Mary's. While the final score probably isn't indicative for the overall competitiveness of the game, a 20 point loss is still a 20 point loss.
There were some positives from that game. Billy Giles found his touch around the rim again, the Colonials ran some nice pick and roll, freshman Isaiah Still showed flashes of someone who is going to be a very good player in this league and Matty McConnell showed that aggression at the rim we've all been waiting for.
Obviously, there were a lot more negatives than positives. The Colonials shot a whopping 1-14 from three, with the only make coming from walk-on Anthony Pugh (#TeamPugh) as time was winding down. Robert Morris also lost the offensive rebounding margin 15-8 and committed 20 turnovers.
The most concerning thing was the performance of RMU's "big 3", the three guys the Colonials will be counting on most to create and deliver offense. Here's the combined stat sheet for Rodney Pryor, Kavon Stewart and Elijah Minnie:
-16 points on 3-17 shooting, 0-7 from three, nine rebounds, four assists and eight turnovers.
Today's game against St. Francis PA is a big one, for a lot of reasons. RMU is 4-5 in conference play. There are four other teams also at 4-5, jockeying for position in the conference standings. St. Francis PA is 5-4, so a win today would even things up. Also, a win keeps RMU within striking distance of Wagner and Fairleigh Dickinson, who both sit at 6-3.
Also, who doesn't want to beat St. Francis? They're like that annoying little cousin you're forced to hang out with on Christmas.
To get that win, RMU is really going to need Pryor, Minnie and Stewart to find another gear to their games. Minnie's game Thursday was especially confusing. For someone as big, athletic and skilled as he is, he looked... disinterested? I'm not sure, but it was weird. He took just three shots the whole game. He grabbed just one rebound.
Pryor still seems to be feeling the affects of his concussion. In his two games since returning, he's shot just 3-10 from the floor. He's getting to the line a lot, which is good, but RMU obviously needs more. He was an automatic 20 points before his injury, which is what the Colonials need. Hell, if that means taking 20 shots, I'm all for it. I hope we see a much more aggressive Pryor today.
And, like I've been saying for the better part of two years now, this team will go as Kavon Stewart goes. He needs to protect the ball and find his teammates for good looks, along with finishing a little himself.
Robert Morris has a dreadfully inefficient offense to begin with. Their 90.6 points-per-100-possessions ranks among the worst 15 offenses in the country. Without those three firing on all cylinders, RMU can't even be an average offense. St. Francis is not a good defensive team, ranking second-worst in the conference at defensive efficiency.
The classic immovable object versus unstoppable force.
This is a winnable game for the Colonials, but not without Pryor, Minnie and Stewart playing to their potential.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Preview: Robert Morris at Mount St. Mary's
Robert Morris (6-15, 4-4) at Mount St. Mary's (9-12, 6-2)
When: Thursday, January 28th at 7 p.m.
Where: Knott Arena, Emmitsburg, Maryland
KenPom: RMU 289, MSM 223
KenPom Line: Mount -7
Link/TV: CBS Sports Network
Storyline: Robert Morris looks to go three for three on their current four game road swing. This will be the most difficult game on the trip, as they take on the current leader of the NEC.
Getting to know the Mountaineers: Mount St. Mary's and Robert Morris have a long history, usually full of rare heartbreak for Colonials fans. Robert Morris could really regain their mojo with a road win for a nationally televised audience.
Of course, that won't be easy. The Mount is 6-2 in conference, with one of their losses coming in double overtime versus Bryant and the other by just five points at Sacred Heart. Not to mention, these two teams met just two weeks ago, and the end result was ugly. More on that later.
When it comes to overall talent level, it's hard to argue that any team has more than the Mount. Shooting guard B.K. Ashe has been good this year, averaging a team-high 14.2 points. He's certainly in the running for conference player of the year.
His backcourt running mate is Junior Robinson, all 5-foot-9 of him. Even as one of the smallest players in Division I hoops, Robinson is a problem; he's incredibly quick, can shoot well from downtown and has superb vision. Watching him and Kavon Stewart go at it all night is going to be fun.
Some other household names: Will Miller is a 6-foot-11 stretch four who will knock down everything from three if he gets going.... Freshman point guard Elijah Long is a smart point guard who knows how to move without the ball... Taylor Danaher is 7-foot... Power forward Greg Graves has been a little disappointing this season but is still one of the 10 most talented players in the conference...
Last time out: These two teams met exactly two weeks ago at Robert Morris. The result wasn't good. Mount St. Mary's took a 43-13 halftime lead en route to winning 76-52. A few things about that game:
-Rather unexpectedly, Robert Morris was without Rodney Pryor and Andre Frederick. That can mess with a team mentally.
-Mount St. Mary's is a really good defensive team, and they did their part taking someone like Elijah Minnie out of the game. Minnie had four points on 1-8 shooting. Mount's length gives a lot of teams problems.
-Mount shot 7-17 from three as a team. Will Miller went 4-8. Robert Morris simply can't let him get good looks tonight. They have to close out hard on defense.
Making the case for Robert Morris: RMU is playing their best ball of the year since that loss, winning three in a row. The colonials should also have Pryor back. Even after a quiet game last Saturday, he brings a component to the team that no one else can replicate.
For some reason, I also think Andre Frederick could give some valuable minutes tonight. The colonials need his size to match up with the likes of Danaher, who grabbed eight boards in 18 minutes in their last meeting. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the way Conrad Stephens is playing, but no one has the size Frederick does. Maybe seeing a walk-on play the way he did will inspire something productive out of Frederick.
RMU got the doors blown off of them in the last meeting, but they still did a lot well. They forced 16 turnovers, blocked 6 shots and got to the line 28 times. Hell, they even outscored Mount St. Mary's in the second half. Their biggest problem came on the boards (MSM had 13 offensive rebounds to RMU's 3) and... shooting. Pryor might be able to correct those problems.
Finally, there's the defense. RMU leads the NEC in defensive efficiency, giving up 91.2 points-per-100-possessions. The offense has been dreadful, but this defense should keep them in things.
Getting to know the Mountaineers: Mount St. Mary's and Robert Morris have a long history, usually full of rare heartbreak for Colonials fans. Robert Morris could really regain their mojo with a road win for a nationally televised audience.
Of course, that won't be easy. The Mount is 6-2 in conference, with one of their losses coming in double overtime versus Bryant and the other by just five points at Sacred Heart. Not to mention, these two teams met just two weeks ago, and the end result was ugly. More on that later.
When it comes to overall talent level, it's hard to argue that any team has more than the Mount. Shooting guard B.K. Ashe has been good this year, averaging a team-high 14.2 points. He's certainly in the running for conference player of the year.
His backcourt running mate is Junior Robinson, all 5-foot-9 of him. Even as one of the smallest players in Division I hoops, Robinson is a problem; he's incredibly quick, can shoot well from downtown and has superb vision. Watching him and Kavon Stewart go at it all night is going to be fun.
Some other household names: Will Miller is a 6-foot-11 stretch four who will knock down everything from three if he gets going.... Freshman point guard Elijah Long is a smart point guard who knows how to move without the ball... Taylor Danaher is 7-foot... Power forward Greg Graves has been a little disappointing this season but is still one of the 10 most talented players in the conference...
Last time out: These two teams met exactly two weeks ago at Robert Morris. The result wasn't good. Mount St. Mary's took a 43-13 halftime lead en route to winning 76-52. A few things about that game:
-Rather unexpectedly, Robert Morris was without Rodney Pryor and Andre Frederick. That can mess with a team mentally.
-Mount St. Mary's is a really good defensive team, and they did their part taking someone like Elijah Minnie out of the game. Minnie had four points on 1-8 shooting. Mount's length gives a lot of teams problems.
-Mount shot 7-17 from three as a team. Will Miller went 4-8. Robert Morris simply can't let him get good looks tonight. They have to close out hard on defense.
Making the case for Robert Morris: RMU is playing their best ball of the year since that loss, winning three in a row. The colonials should also have Pryor back. Even after a quiet game last Saturday, he brings a component to the team that no one else can replicate.
For some reason, I also think Andre Frederick could give some valuable minutes tonight. The colonials need his size to match up with the likes of Danaher, who grabbed eight boards in 18 minutes in their last meeting. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the way Conrad Stephens is playing, but no one has the size Frederick does. Maybe seeing a walk-on play the way he did will inspire something productive out of Frederick.
RMU got the doors blown off of them in the last meeting, but they still did a lot well. They forced 16 turnovers, blocked 6 shots and got to the line 28 times. Hell, they even outscored Mount St. Mary's in the second half. Their biggest problem came on the boards (MSM had 13 offensive rebounds to RMU's 3) and... shooting. Pryor might be able to correct those problems.
Finally, there's the defense. RMU leads the NEC in defensive efficiency, giving up 91.2 points-per-100-possessions. The offense has been dreadful, but this defense should keep them in things.
Monday, January 25, 2016
NEC Outlook
Last week when I planned on writing this piece, I didn't think I would be too happy. You see, I planned on writing an NEC outlook piece today, Monday the 25th because of the timing.
League play is now almost halfway done. Thursday 1/28 marks the halfway point, as every team will have completed nine games. Releasing this piece on a Monday made the most sense, as it can run for a few days, opposed to Thursday after the halfway point with such a quick turnaround. It's a good time to step back and take a good look at where things stand.
Anyway, I didn't think I would be too happy because RMU was 1-4. Rodney Pryor, Aaron Tate, Jordan Lester and Andre Frederick were all out injured, with Tate likely done for the season. RMU had just had their doors blown off by Mount. The outlook looked bleak.
Then Conrad Stephens happened.
The Colonials are now 4-4 in league play, and have won three in a row, the last two of which have been on the road. They are right back in the mix of things and a win Thursday at Mount St. Mary's would put them just a game back of first place. Pryor is back. Elijah Minnie and Kavon Stewart are playing at a first team All-NEC level. The Colonials look rejuvenated.
Now lets get to that outlook.
Above are your current standings. At first glance a few things standout....
1) CCSU is done. The Blue Devils, at 0-8 and 1-18 on the season seem like a lock to miss another NEC tournament (only the top eight teams make the postseason tournament). That means nine teams will chase eight spots.
2) The crowded pack in the middle of the league will make for a fun race to the finish line. FDU, Wagner, SFPA, SFBK, Bryant, Sacred Heart, and RMU are all within one game of each other, with the last four all tied at 4-4. LIU is only a game back of that group at 3-5. While we still have 10 games left, it's clear there could be a few tiebreakers that decide seeding, home court and even who actually gets into the field. Head-to-head will be very important.
3) Wagner, SFPA, and FDU all sit at 5-3, just a game out of first. The Red Flash made a huge comeback on Thursday at Bryant to earn an impressive win away from home. Remember, no league member not named Robert Morris, LIU, or Mt St. Mary's has represented the league in the NCAA tournament since 2007! Even crazier....only three of the 16 NEC Title game finalist in that eight year stretch were a team other than the above there (and one was Quinnipiac, who is no longer in the league). Wagner, SFPA, and FDU will try to break that trend.
4) Speaking of The Mount. They are off to the best start, going 6-2 so far. They did blow a game at home to Bryant, but other than that it's been a great start. If there is a "team to beat," there is no doubt they reside in Emmitsburg, MD.
5) So where do we go from here? KenPom predictions are pictured to the side. RMU slides in as the six seed, with a road game at FDU in the first round, while Mount is slotted to win the league at 13-5.
Kunkel Predictions: If you're a betting man, go bet against all of these because that's usually how these things work...
1) Mount -- They are the leagues best team, and have enough depth to endure the gruel of the season.
2) RMU -- Yea, I think RMU will get all the way up to the two spot. A caveat though. I don't think they get close to MSM, and will probably finished tied with a few teams.
3) Wagner -- The win at RMU is huge and they still get the Colonials at home. They have a very tough stretch upcoming.
4) SFPA -- The offense is very good. The defense stinks. Freshman Isaiah Blackmon has been sensational.
5) Sacred Heart -- The Pios had a great weekend beating MSM (home) and Wagner on the road. They've also won at RMU. Cane Broome could win POY. If I had to pick a team I'll likely regret putting too low, it's SHU.
6) FDU -- The Knights have been the biggest surprise in NEC play at 5-3, but they have yet to beat a team that I consider a contender.
7) SFBK -- The defending champs have been about what everyone thought they would be. Really good on the glass, good defensively, pretty bad on offense. They did pick up a big win over LIU this past weekend.
8) LIU Brooklyn -- The Blackbirds would miss the NEC tournament if it started today, but this is a team with a ton of talent. I think they'll put it together and make the tournament. They have two big home games this week vs SHU and FDU.
9) Bryant -- They've already lost at home to LIU, and have lost three straight overall (all at home) after a 4-1 start. They aren't great offensively, and they stink defensively (outside the top 300 in both according to KenPom). They also play the next four games away form home.
10) CCSU -- Only one question remains...will they win a game in the NEC? KenPom rates them as the worst team in D1 hoops.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
League play is now almost halfway done. Thursday 1/28 marks the halfway point, as every team will have completed nine games. Releasing this piece on a Monday made the most sense, as it can run for a few days, opposed to Thursday after the halfway point with such a quick turnaround. It's a good time to step back and take a good look at where things stand.
Anyway, I didn't think I would be too happy because RMU was 1-4. Rodney Pryor, Aaron Tate, Jordan Lester and Andre Frederick were all out injured, with Tate likely done for the season. RMU had just had their doors blown off by Mount. The outlook looked bleak.
Then Conrad Stephens happened.
The Colonials are now 4-4 in league play, and have won three in a row, the last two of which have been on the road. They are right back in the mix of things and a win Thursday at Mount St. Mary's would put them just a game back of first place. Pryor is back. Elijah Minnie and Kavon Stewart are playing at a first team All-NEC level. The Colonials look rejuvenated.
Now lets get to that outlook.
 |
| NEC Standings (ESPN) |
1) CCSU is done. The Blue Devils, at 0-8 and 1-18 on the season seem like a lock to miss another NEC tournament (only the top eight teams make the postseason tournament). That means nine teams will chase eight spots.
2) The crowded pack in the middle of the league will make for a fun race to the finish line. FDU, Wagner, SFPA, SFBK, Bryant, Sacred Heart, and RMU are all within one game of each other, with the last four all tied at 4-4. LIU is only a game back of that group at 3-5. While we still have 10 games left, it's clear there could be a few tiebreakers that decide seeding, home court and even who actually gets into the field. Head-to-head will be very important.
3) Wagner, SFPA, and FDU all sit at 5-3, just a game out of first. The Red Flash made a huge comeback on Thursday at Bryant to earn an impressive win away from home. Remember, no league member not named Robert Morris, LIU, or Mt St. Mary's has represented the league in the NCAA tournament since 2007! Even crazier....only three of the 16 NEC Title game finalist in that eight year stretch were a team other than the above there (and one was Quinnipiac, who is no longer in the league). Wagner, SFPA, and FDU will try to break that trend.
4) Speaking of The Mount. They are off to the best start, going 6-2 so far. They did blow a game at home to Bryant, but other than that it's been a great start. If there is a "team to beat," there is no doubt they reside in Emmitsburg, MD.5) So where do we go from here? KenPom predictions are pictured to the side. RMU slides in as the six seed, with a road game at FDU in the first round, while Mount is slotted to win the league at 13-5.
Kunkel Predictions: If you're a betting man, go bet against all of these because that's usually how these things work...
1) Mount -- They are the leagues best team, and have enough depth to endure the gruel of the season.
2) RMU -- Yea, I think RMU will get all the way up to the two spot. A caveat though. I don't think they get close to MSM, and will probably finished tied with a few teams.
3) Wagner -- The win at RMU is huge and they still get the Colonials at home. They have a very tough stretch upcoming.
4) SFPA -- The offense is very good. The defense stinks. Freshman Isaiah Blackmon has been sensational.
5) Sacred Heart -- The Pios had a great weekend beating MSM (home) and Wagner on the road. They've also won at RMU. Cane Broome could win POY. If I had to pick a team I'll likely regret putting too low, it's SHU.
6) FDU -- The Knights have been the biggest surprise in NEC play at 5-3, but they have yet to beat a team that I consider a contender.
7) SFBK -- The defending champs have been about what everyone thought they would be. Really good on the glass, good defensively, pretty bad on offense. They did pick up a big win over LIU this past weekend.
8) LIU Brooklyn -- The Blackbirds would miss the NEC tournament if it started today, but this is a team with a ton of talent. I think they'll put it together and make the tournament. They have two big home games this week vs SHU and FDU.
9) Bryant -- They've already lost at home to LIU, and have lost three straight overall (all at home) after a 4-1 start. They aren't great offensively, and they stink defensively (outside the top 300 in both according to KenPom). They also play the next four games away form home.
10) CCSU -- Only one question remains...will they win a game in the NEC? KenPom rates them as the worst team in D1 hoops.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Colonials top Bryant, back to .500 in NEC play
I don't know what happened 10 days ago after RMU got their doors blown off by Mt. St. Mary's on their home court, but something sure happened.
The Colonials won their third straight game. It was a complete game on both ends of the court. I've already typed too many words without mentioning junior Kavon Stewart and sophomore forward Elijah Minnie. THEY ARE BALLIN.
Minnie, coming off maybe the best half of basketball in his short career against CCSU, continued to deliver. He poured in 13 points, 12 boards and six (!!!) blocks. He anchored the RMU defense all game long and was a menace at the rim. Minnie has played maybe his best two game stretch of his RMU career. His play has been a major part o the turnaround. "The team that had the most energy would be the one to come away with the victory. Elijah got us going, and we fed off that," Toole said postgame.
Kavon Stewart is playing the best basketball of his life. Seriously. The point guard once again was in cruise control. Finding his teammates, getting to the rim at will, playing disruptive defense...and KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS. Stewart hit a few big three's to help RMU put the game away. He finished with 18 points (team high) and five dimes. He also went 4-5 from the free throw line.
His play did not go unnoticed. "Kavon is getting our guys pumped up and keeping the intensity up. He's taking ownership of this team," Toole said.
K looked like the best point guard in the NEC.
The big new coming into the game...injuries. RMU did get Rodney Pryor back. That was big on the offensive end. Pryor was clearly rusty --he even missed backed to back free throws!!!-- but provided great spacing and gave the Bryant D something to think about that would obviously not be there without his presence. He also closed the game out from the line, going 7-7 in the games final minutes. Nice to have the senior back. If the Colonials can mix him into what they are currently doing....watch out. He finished with 10 points on 1-4 shooting.
This was the most complete performance of the season from RMU. They only played seven guys, but everyone contributed. A few more takeaways....
RMU has the best trio in the league when Stewart and Minnie are on their game. Those two had to step up with Pryor out. It may have sparked them. Each is carrying more than their fair share of the load on both sides of the ball.
The freshmen and Billy Giles (Juco transfer) are settling in. Matty McConnell hit the dagger three and finished with eight points. He was great defensively and took care of the ball (only one turnover).
Isiah Still is becoming a weapon on the wing. He can knock down the three and attack the rim, but it's his length and ability to cover so much ground that makes his special. Paired with Minnie, the RMU zone was insanely active on the wing. Andy Toole appreciates the effort. "Our freshmen are coming along. They're learning. To their credit, they're putting in extra time to get better"
Giles --who has been solid all year-- finished with six points and six boards. You won't confuse him with Boogie Cousins, but he's a nice upgrade on the block over recent years. He's also really tough.
Even Steve Whitley is starting to ball. He is a plus defender, and you can tell his figuring things out in the 2-3 zone.
RMU has now gone three straight games without giving up 60 points. They turned Bryant over 14 times and were able to get some easy transition buckets.
The ball movement was sensational today. Almost all their looks were good shots that came off penetration or top end ball movement.
This team seems to have found their way. As I mentioned before the game, this was a test game. They past with a solid A grade.
Now an even tougher test awaits at Mount St. Mary's Thursday.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
The Colonials won their third straight game. It was a complete game on both ends of the court. I've already typed too many words without mentioning junior Kavon Stewart and sophomore forward Elijah Minnie. THEY ARE BALLIN.
Minnie, coming off maybe the best half of basketball in his short career against CCSU, continued to deliver. He poured in 13 points, 12 boards and six (!!!) blocks. He anchored the RMU defense all game long and was a menace at the rim. Minnie has played maybe his best two game stretch of his RMU career. His play has been a major part o the turnaround. "The team that had the most energy would be the one to come away with the victory. Elijah got us going, and we fed off that," Toole said postgame.
 |
| K is back, and so are the Colonials. |
Kavon Stewart is playing the best basketball of his life. Seriously. The point guard once again was in cruise control. Finding his teammates, getting to the rim at will, playing disruptive defense...and KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS. Stewart hit a few big three's to help RMU put the game away. He finished with 18 points (team high) and five dimes. He also went 4-5 from the free throw line.
His play did not go unnoticed. "Kavon is getting our guys pumped up and keeping the intensity up. He's taking ownership of this team," Toole said.
K looked like the best point guard in the NEC.
The big new coming into the game...injuries. RMU did get Rodney Pryor back. That was big on the offensive end. Pryor was clearly rusty --he even missed backed to back free throws!!!-- but provided great spacing and gave the Bryant D something to think about that would obviously not be there without his presence. He also closed the game out from the line, going 7-7 in the games final minutes. Nice to have the senior back. If the Colonials can mix him into what they are currently doing....watch out. He finished with 10 points on 1-4 shooting.
This was the most complete performance of the season from RMU. They only played seven guys, but everyone contributed. A few more takeaways....
RMU has the best trio in the league when Stewart and Minnie are on their game. Those two had to step up with Pryor out. It may have sparked them. Each is carrying more than their fair share of the load on both sides of the ball.
The freshmen and Billy Giles (Juco transfer) are settling in. Matty McConnell hit the dagger three and finished with eight points. He was great defensively and took care of the ball (only one turnover).
Isiah Still is becoming a weapon on the wing. He can knock down the three and attack the rim, but it's his length and ability to cover so much ground that makes his special. Paired with Minnie, the RMU zone was insanely active on the wing. Andy Toole appreciates the effort. "Our freshmen are coming along. They're learning. To their credit, they're putting in extra time to get better"
Giles --who has been solid all year-- finished with six points and six boards. You won't confuse him with Boogie Cousins, but he's a nice upgrade on the block over recent years. He's also really tough.
Even Steve Whitley is starting to ball. He is a plus defender, and you can tell his figuring things out in the 2-3 zone.
RMU has now gone three straight games without giving up 60 points. They turned Bryant over 14 times and were able to get some easy transition buckets.
The ball movement was sensational today. Almost all their looks were good shots that came off penetration or top end ball movement.
This team seems to have found their way. As I mentioned before the game, this was a test game. They past with a solid A grade.
Now an even tougher test awaits at Mount St. Mary's Thursday.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
Robert Morris at Bryant: Time for a test
Robert Morris (5-15, 3-4) at Bryant (7-13, 4-3)
When: Today, 4:00 PM
Where: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, Rhode Island
KenPom: RMU 298, Bryant 325
KenPom Line: Bryant -1
Link: NECFrontRow.com, ESPN3
Storyline: Robert Morris stays on the road as they visit Bryant this afternoon. While snow has effected many of the games across the east coast, it appears the Colonials will tip as scheduled this afternoon.
Robert Morris has won two games in a row for the first time this season as they are coming off a win over FDU at home, and a relatively easy win at CCSU on Thursday despite missing a coup of key players.
Aaron Tate will likely be out (as reported a few days ago, he may miss the whole season). RMU could get Rodney Pryor and Andre Frederick back from concussions. Both are game time decisions.
Elijah Minnie --who was suspended for the first half against CCSU-- responded well in the second half, pouring in 15 points and collecting nine rebounds in only 17 minutes of action. He'll need to stay aggressive again today.
Bryant sits at 4-3 in the NEC, but is coming off a tough home loss to St. Francis PA in which they blew a 17 point halftime lead against the Red Flash. They have now lost two in a row after a 4-1 start in league play that included a win at Mount St. Mary's.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have struggled all season. They are outside of the top 300 nationally in defensive efficiency, giving up 111.5 points-per-100 possessions. In the NEC play only, they sit at seventh. They are not nearly as good as they have been in past years on the offensive end as they have had to replace some of the programs best players.
Dan Garvin and Hunter Ware lead the way. RMU will have to keep them in check.
An interesting fact....despite Bryant becoming one of the top teams in the NEC the past few seasons, the Bulldogs have yet to beat RMU on their home floor. They have won two games in Moon, but have yet to breakthrough in Smithfield against the Colonials. RMU is 10-2 all time vs Bryant.
For Robert Morris, this is a very intriguing game. In their last three games, they've went 2-1 without a few players, and have won their last two. One of those wins was over CCSU, who may be the worst team in D1 basketball, making it hard to make any conclusions. This game will be telling.
If Pryor plays, it will be key to incorporate his offense into what the team has done so well the last few days. They are playing strong defense, protecting the ball, and playing with a ton of energy.
Elijah Minnie has been a monster these past few days. He needs to continue that level of play. I'd also like to see Isaiah Still and Matty McConnell play a bit more consistent. RMU could really use a solid game from both of they if they want to get back to 4-4 in league play.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
When: Today, 4:00 PM
Where: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, Rhode Island
KenPom: RMU 298, Bryant 325
KenPom Line: Bryant -1
Link: NECFrontRow.com, ESPN3
Storyline: Robert Morris stays on the road as they visit Bryant this afternoon. While snow has effected many of the games across the east coast, it appears the Colonials will tip as scheduled this afternoon.
Robert Morris has won two games in a row for the first time this season as they are coming off a win over FDU at home, and a relatively easy win at CCSU on Thursday despite missing a coup of key players.
Aaron Tate will likely be out (as reported a few days ago, he may miss the whole season). RMU could get Rodney Pryor and Andre Frederick back from concussions. Both are game time decisions.
Elijah Minnie --who was suspended for the first half against CCSU-- responded well in the second half, pouring in 15 points and collecting nine rebounds in only 17 minutes of action. He'll need to stay aggressive again today.
Bryant sits at 4-3 in the NEC, but is coming off a tough home loss to St. Francis PA in which they blew a 17 point halftime lead against the Red Flash. They have now lost two in a row after a 4-1 start in league play that included a win at Mount St. Mary's.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have struggled all season. They are outside of the top 300 nationally in defensive efficiency, giving up 111.5 points-per-100 possessions. In the NEC play only, they sit at seventh. They are not nearly as good as they have been in past years on the offensive end as they have had to replace some of the programs best players.
Dan Garvin and Hunter Ware lead the way. RMU will have to keep them in check.
An interesting fact....despite Bryant becoming one of the top teams in the NEC the past few seasons, the Bulldogs have yet to beat RMU on their home floor. They have won two games in Moon, but have yet to breakthrough in Smithfield against the Colonials. RMU is 10-2 all time vs Bryant.
For Robert Morris, this is a very intriguing game. In their last three games, they've went 2-1 without a few players, and have won their last two. One of those wins was over CCSU, who may be the worst team in D1 basketball, making it hard to make any conclusions. This game will be telling.
If Pryor plays, it will be key to incorporate his offense into what the team has done so well the last few days. They are playing strong defense, protecting the ball, and playing with a ton of energy.
Elijah Minnie has been a monster these past few days. He needs to continue that level of play. I'd also like to see Isaiah Still and Matty McConnell play a bit more consistent. RMU could really use a solid game from both of they if they want to get back to 4-4 in league play.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
Friday, January 22, 2016
Friday Pod: On a roll?
Chris and Lee have a Friday podcast so long, it had to be broken down into two parts!
The duo discuss everything from RMU's win over Central Connecticut State, the emergence of Conrad Stephens, what lineup rotations may look like when the health gets better and much, much more.
Sounds like a lot of fun to listen to as you get snowed in!
Click here for the Soundcloud link.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Note: I don't have audio editing gear, so sorry it had to be broken into two parts.
The duo discuss everything from RMU's win over Central Connecticut State, the emergence of Conrad Stephens, what lineup rotations may look like when the health gets better and much, much more.
Sounds like a lot of fun to listen to as you get snowed in!
Click here for the Soundcloud link.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Note: I don't have audio editing gear, so sorry it had to be broken into two parts.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Colonials dominate CCSU on the road.
Robert Morris got another much needed win at Central Connecticut 59-45, using a 24-2 run spanning from the end of the first half until about the 14 minute mark in the second. CCSU led the Colonials 18-14, but it was all Colonials the rest of the way.
Rodney Pryor, Aaron Tate, Andre Frederick, and Jordan Lester all missed the game due to injury, and to make matters worse Elijah Minnie was suspended for the first half. Minnie used it as motivation it seemed.
He came out aggressive and was in full on attack mode. The sophomore started the second half 4-4, and finished the game with 15 points on 7-9 shooting, including a fast break ally-oop from Kavon Stewart that seemed like the final nail in the coffin. He also added nine rebounds and a block. Pretty impressive for one half.
While CCSU is a bad team (1-17, 0-7 in the NEC) the Colonials defense and perseverance were impressive. At one point in the first half, RMU had two walk-on's in the game. Andy Toole noticed the energy, and appreciated the effort. "Our guys did an excellent job defending the whole game. That really got us going. Elijah gave us an offensive lift, too," Toole said.
Meanwhile, Stewart has really come into his own. The junior was in complete control all game long, and helped ease the loss of so many key pieces. "Kavon's communication is great. At the free-throw line he's talking. He's becoming a leader, and it's great to see," Toole said postgame. K finished with 15 points, four assists.
This game marked the start of a key four game road trip. The Colonials will head to Bryant on Saturday before a trip to Mount and St. Francis PA.
Interestingly enough, RMU has now played two of their best games this season without star guard Rodney Pryor. The senior has missed the last three games with a concussion (he'll be game time decision on Saturday) and RMU is 2-1 without him. Others have been forced to step up in his absence. Minnie and Stewart have stepped up big time, and the Colonials are getting contributions from everyone. It has also led to more attention of the defensive end with the team's top offensive weapon out. If they can mix Pryor into this mix, Toole might have found what he's looking for.
With all that said, CCSU is really bad and it's hard to come to any concrete conclusions after this game. Saturday's game at Bryant will be telling.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
Rodney Pryor, Aaron Tate, Andre Frederick, and Jordan Lester all missed the game due to injury, and to make matters worse Elijah Minnie was suspended for the first half. Minnie used it as motivation it seemed.
He came out aggressive and was in full on attack mode. The sophomore started the second half 4-4, and finished the game with 15 points on 7-9 shooting, including a fast break ally-oop from Kavon Stewart that seemed like the final nail in the coffin. He also added nine rebounds and a block. Pretty impressive for one half.
While CCSU is a bad team (1-17, 0-7 in the NEC) the Colonials defense and perseverance were impressive. At one point in the first half, RMU had two walk-on's in the game. Andy Toole noticed the energy, and appreciated the effort. "Our guys did an excellent job defending the whole game. That really got us going. Elijah gave us an offensive lift, too," Toole said.
 |
| Stewart and Minnie propelled RMU to a W Thursday night. |
Meanwhile, Stewart has really come into his own. The junior was in complete control all game long, and helped ease the loss of so many key pieces. "Kavon's communication is great. At the free-throw line he's talking. He's becoming a leader, and it's great to see," Toole said postgame. K finished with 15 points, four assists.
This game marked the start of a key four game road trip. The Colonials will head to Bryant on Saturday before a trip to Mount and St. Francis PA.
Interestingly enough, RMU has now played two of their best games this season without star guard Rodney Pryor. The senior has missed the last three games with a concussion (he'll be game time decision on Saturday) and RMU is 2-1 without him. Others have been forced to step up in his absence. Minnie and Stewart have stepped up big time, and the Colonials are getting contributions from everyone. It has also led to more attention of the defensive end with the team's top offensive weapon out. If they can mix Pryor into this mix, Toole might have found what he's looking for.
With all that said, CCSU is really bad and it's hard to come to any concrete conclusions after this game. Saturday's game at Bryant will be telling.
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
What to watch for: CCSU
Robert Morris is quite literally taking on one of the worst teams in Division I basketball this evening, Central Connecticut State University. The Blue Devils are 1-16 on the year, with their lone win coming against UMASS-Lowell, a program just entering its third year of existence at the D-I level.
That's not to say this a guaranteed victory, because there's no such thing, especially in conference play, especially with this team in conference play.
-CCSU has nothing and everything to play for: No one is expecting CCSU to win this game. Why would they? They're 1-16, squaring off against the defending conference champs. Because of this, you would really think this is a team that would play loose. What's the worst that could happen?
To play off that point a little, although it's still early, CCSU needs to win some games tomake any sort of push to make the NEC conference tournament. That combination of loose basketball and urgency is a dangerous mix.
-Talent shining through: You know who's a good basketball player? Brandon Peel. I fckin love Brandon Peel. No matter his team's record or score, he's going to play his heart out. Having a forward that isn't afraid to throw his body around or hustle presents a problem. Plus, he can play a little. Peel is ranked 92nd in the country in defensive rebounding percentage, shoots over 40 percent from the floor (which isn't great, but is easy to understand when you look at the rest of the offense) and hits 70 percent of his free throws.
This will also be the first chance we get to see freshman shooting guard Austin Nehls. CCSU fans must look at Nehls like he's an alien. "You mean he can actually shoot and score from long distances?" Yes, Nehls is shooting 38.5 percent from three on the year, averaging around six three-point attempts per game.
There's also Jalil Nails, a freshman wing who is shooting 41.8 percent from three. Those two guys are literally the only players to worry about from three. RMU cannot afford to let them get going.
-CCSU is not afraid of Robert Morris: For a program that's 5-42 in its last 47 games, they sure don't play like it. Last year, RMU needed an Aaron Tate tip-in at the buzzer to win by one at home. The game at CCSU was a five point game with 10 minutes to go. The year before that, the Blue Devils staged a furious comeback in Moon Township, famously scoring 32 points in the games final 10 minutes, taunting the RMU crowd, starting the #FreeMark contest, all of this after I missed a half-court shot at halftime.
-Health: According to Chris Mueller, Rodney Pryor (concussion) is a game-time decision. If he can't play, RMU could lose to anyone, he's that important to the offense and rebounding.
-#MOmentum?: Did RMU find their mojo Saturday against FDU? Because it certainly seemed so. The team played loose and had fun on the floor. They had a ton of energy because of the way walk-on Conrad Stephens played. That needs to continue forward. I tend to think that momentum is a little overrated, especially trying to carry it over from a game almost a week ago, but this is a weird team.
-Talent levels: Yes, I love Peel, Nehls and Nails for CCSU, but none of those guys are better than Elijah Minnie, and I feel confident that talent wise, Matty McConnell and Isaiah Still are just as good as CCSU's freshman guards.
-The matchup itself: CCSU is the only team that rebounds just as bad as Robert Morris! That's a good thing. If I'm an RMU fan, I love the fact that CCSU struggles to force turnovers. Robert Morris, for as bad as they are offensively, should at least be able to get to wherever they want on the floor for good shots, because that's what everyone else has been able to do. The Colonials should also benefit from CCSU's high turnover percentage (20.6 percent). I feel a big game coming from Matty McConnell, who is very active defensively and could look to get to the rim a little more against some questionable defenders.
Prediction: Robert Morris 76, CCSU 60
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
That's not to say this a guaranteed victory, because there's no such thing, especially in conference play, especially with this team in conference play.
Potential problems for the Colonials
-CCSU has nothing and everything to play for: No one is expecting CCSU to win this game. Why would they? They're 1-16, squaring off against the defending conference champs. Because of this, you would really think this is a team that would play loose. What's the worst that could happen?
To play off that point a little, although it's still early, CCSU needs to win some games tomake any sort of push to make the NEC conference tournament. That combination of loose basketball and urgency is a dangerous mix.
-Talent shining through: You know who's a good basketball player? Brandon Peel. I fckin love Brandon Peel. No matter his team's record or score, he's going to play his heart out. Having a forward that isn't afraid to throw his body around or hustle presents a problem. Plus, he can play a little. Peel is ranked 92nd in the country in defensive rebounding percentage, shoots over 40 percent from the floor (which isn't great, but is easy to understand when you look at the rest of the offense) and hits 70 percent of his free throws.
This will also be the first chance we get to see freshman shooting guard Austin Nehls. CCSU fans must look at Nehls like he's an alien. "You mean he can actually shoot and score from long distances?" Yes, Nehls is shooting 38.5 percent from three on the year, averaging around six three-point attempts per game.
There's also Jalil Nails, a freshman wing who is shooting 41.8 percent from three. Those two guys are literally the only players to worry about from three. RMU cannot afford to let them get going.
-CCSU is not afraid of Robert Morris: For a program that's 5-42 in its last 47 games, they sure don't play like it. Last year, RMU needed an Aaron Tate tip-in at the buzzer to win by one at home. The game at CCSU was a five point game with 10 minutes to go. The year before that, the Blue Devils staged a furious comeback in Moon Township, famously scoring 32 points in the games final 10 minutes, taunting the RMU crowd, starting the #FreeMark contest, all of this after I missed a half-court shot at halftime.
-Health: According to Chris Mueller, Rodney Pryor (concussion) is a game-time decision. If he can't play, RMU could lose to anyone, he's that important to the offense and rebounding.
Why RMU will win
-#MOmentum?: Did RMU find their mojo Saturday against FDU? Because it certainly seemed so. The team played loose and had fun on the floor. They had a ton of energy because of the way walk-on Conrad Stephens played. That needs to continue forward. I tend to think that momentum is a little overrated, especially trying to carry it over from a game almost a week ago, but this is a weird team.
-Talent levels: Yes, I love Peel, Nehls and Nails for CCSU, but none of those guys are better than Elijah Minnie, and I feel confident that talent wise, Matty McConnell and Isaiah Still are just as good as CCSU's freshman guards.
-The matchup itself: CCSU is the only team that rebounds just as bad as Robert Morris! That's a good thing. If I'm an RMU fan, I love the fact that CCSU struggles to force turnovers. Robert Morris, for as bad as they are offensively, should at least be able to get to wherever they want on the floor for good shots, because that's what everyone else has been able to do. The Colonials should also benefit from CCSU's high turnover percentage (20.6 percent). I feel a big game coming from Matty McConnell, who is very active defensively and could look to get to the rim a little more against some questionable defenders.
Prediction: Robert Morris 76, CCSU 60
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Conrad Stephens: American hero?
I was thinking the other day: do we think Conrad Stephens' Ring of Honor ceremony should be held before the last home game or before next year's opener? And where should we put the statue?
The junior walk-on forward was able to spark a rare 64-58 win Saturday over Fairliegh Dickinson, who was previously undefeated in conference play. Stephens had 13 points and six boards in 21 minutes off the bench, playing, in large part, because Rodney Pryor and Andre Frederick were out with concussions.
He was impressive in a host of ways, especially showing a very Aaron Tate-esque way of being in the right spots at the right time offensively. He also grabbed six rebounds, something Andre Frederick has done just twice in his entire career. RMU is the worst rebounding team in the conference and one of the worst in the country. If he's going to be a guy who can grab boards, that alone is worth a spot in the rotation.
This was a game Robert Morris could have easily lost. No Rodney Pryor? They needed someone to step up in his absence. Stephens was able to do that.
The most impressive, and possibly important aspect to his game, was the energy it gave the team. The crowd was going wild every time he touched the ball and even crazier when he scored. As we've seen with this team, and teams of the past, RMU plays with its most energy when things are going well offensively. As flawed as that may be, it's the truth.
Last season, a Tate tip-in at the buzzer over lowly Central Connecticut State with no Lucky Jones helped turn the season around. The Colonials ripped off wins in seven of their last eight before losing to Duke in the NCAA tournament. Can the "Conrad game" do the same?
We'll have to see what happens next. Does Stephens take more of Frederick's minutes? Can he stay out of foul trouble? Can he sustain some sort of offensive success and will the team continue to feed off of him as an energy source?
All I know is that was a fun time. If it turns out to be a flash in the pan, we can still make a statue.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
The junior walk-on forward was able to spark a rare 64-58 win Saturday over Fairliegh Dickinson, who was previously undefeated in conference play. Stephens had 13 points and six boards in 21 minutes off the bench, playing, in large part, because Rodney Pryor and Andre Frederick were out with concussions.
"Conrad was huge," head coach Andy Toole said in his postgame interview. "The way he played today is the way he practices. He was awesome; in the right spot, kept it simple, finished around the rim. Conrad got guys excited and gave us energy. We've been looking for that energy out of our team all year."Stephens actually went a perfect 6-6 from the field, with his only miss of the day coming from the free throw line.
He was impressive in a host of ways, especially showing a very Aaron Tate-esque way of being in the right spots at the right time offensively. He also grabbed six rebounds, something Andre Frederick has done just twice in his entire career. RMU is the worst rebounding team in the conference and one of the worst in the country. If he's going to be a guy who can grab boards, that alone is worth a spot in the rotation.
This was a game Robert Morris could have easily lost. No Rodney Pryor? They needed someone to step up in his absence. Stephens was able to do that.
The most impressive, and possibly important aspect to his game, was the energy it gave the team. The crowd was going wild every time he touched the ball and even crazier when he scored. As we've seen with this team, and teams of the past, RMU plays with its most energy when things are going well offensively. As flawed as that may be, it's the truth.
Last season, a Tate tip-in at the buzzer over lowly Central Connecticut State with no Lucky Jones helped turn the season around. The Colonials ripped off wins in seven of their last eight before losing to Duke in the NCAA tournament. Can the "Conrad game" do the same?
We'll have to see what happens next. Does Stephens take more of Frederick's minutes? Can he stay out of foul trouble? Can he sustain some sort of offensive success and will the team continue to feed off of him as an energy source?
All I know is that was a fun time. If it turns out to be a flash in the pan, we can still make a statue.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Friday, January 15, 2016
At a glimpse: Life without Pryor
Robert Morris lost to Mount St. Mary's 76-52 last night in a game that somehow was not as close as the final score indicates.
This was a bad one from the outset. Robert Morris played tough and forced turnovers in the first four minutes of the game. With 15:37 to go in the first half, the score was 7-4 Mount St. Mary's.
With 10 minutes to go, it was 9-7 Mount St. Mary's.
With five minutes left in the first half, it was 24-7.
By the time half ended, Robert Morris trailed 43-13. That's right, RMU scored just 13 points in the first half of a Division I basketball game.
The Colonials lost this game by 24. They did so without Rodney Pryor, the team's best player and perhaps the NEC player of the year. He averages 20.2 points per game. He missed the game after sustaining a concussion in practice.
This was an unfortunate glimpse at just how much Pryor means to this years team. Not only is he one of the only reliable shooters off the pass, he's the only guy who can create offense for himself and free up others in a reliable manner.
Pryor has the third highest assist rate (Kavon Stewart and Jordan Lester are highest, and Lester barely plays), is the team's best rebounder and can double as a ball handler. He's been mister do-it-all this year.
Things were a mess without him. The team got killed on the boards, which usually happens but is especially concerning given Mount St. Mary's awful rebounding numbers, and just couldn't get easy shots off.
It's hard to quantify with numbers, but Pryor, for as good of a scorer as he is, is just as good at drawing traffic and setting up teammates for open shots. Robert Morris was able to get off just nine three-point attempts. Pryor not being there to drive and kick or have defenders slack off teammates anticipating help played a role into that. Mount St. Mary's was all over the passing lanes.
Any team going up against a preseason number one is going to struggle without their top scorer, but actually seeing it transpire was a whole other level.
This was one of the few games this season where head coach Andy Toole took a harsh tone with his teams performance. Some quotes from his press conference:
Obviously, it was going to be tough to win without Pryor, but the message here was clear: #11 isn't playing, time to man up. The Colonials did not respond.
That's probably been the most disappointing aspect of this whole season. Personally, as a Mets, Jets and Knicks fan, I can handle losing. I've been taking L's my whole life. But there's nothing worse than seeing an unmotivated, uninterested team taking the floor.
Not to look too far ahead, but this brings up another point with recruiting. Does Toole & Co. try and get back to their core, finding tough, hard-nosed competitors to bring in? The top players, in years past, all have shared a few common traits. From Velton Jones, to Karvel Anderson, to Anthony Myers-Pate, to Lucky Jones, those guys were tough SOBs. They hated losing, and the rest of the team followed suit. That isn't too apparent on this team, at least not yet.
Ironically, I was saying the same thing last season. Although RMU got off to a better start in conference play, they were 8-10 through 18 games and had a nice stench of me-first basketball. That team, of course, proved everyone wrong, toughened up and won a championship.
Call me crazy, but with a healthy Pryor, I still think this team can do the same. I really do. I like the talent level of this team. They're good defenders. They're just not, as a group, tough. That's what it comes down to. They lose a lot of close games because that shell hasn't hardened. Maybe a few close wins can change that.
That, and of course, Rodney Pryor.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
This was a bad one from the outset. Robert Morris played tough and forced turnovers in the first four minutes of the game. With 15:37 to go in the first half, the score was 7-4 Mount St. Mary's.
With 10 minutes to go, it was 9-7 Mount St. Mary's.
With five minutes left in the first half, it was 24-7.
By the time half ended, Robert Morris trailed 43-13. That's right, RMU scored just 13 points in the first half of a Division I basketball game.
The Colonials lost this game by 24. They did so without Rodney Pryor, the team's best player and perhaps the NEC player of the year. He averages 20.2 points per game. He missed the game after sustaining a concussion in practice.
This was an unfortunate glimpse at just how much Pryor means to this years team. Not only is he one of the only reliable shooters off the pass, he's the only guy who can create offense for himself and free up others in a reliable manner.
Pryor has the third highest assist rate (Kavon Stewart and Jordan Lester are highest, and Lester barely plays), is the team's best rebounder and can double as a ball handler. He's been mister do-it-all this year.
Things were a mess without him. The team got killed on the boards, which usually happens but is especially concerning given Mount St. Mary's awful rebounding numbers, and just couldn't get easy shots off.
It's hard to quantify with numbers, but Pryor, for as good of a scorer as he is, is just as good at drawing traffic and setting up teammates for open shots. Robert Morris was able to get off just nine three-point attempts. Pryor not being there to drive and kick or have defenders slack off teammates anticipating help played a role into that. Mount St. Mary's was all over the passing lanes.
Any team going up against a preseason number one is going to struggle without their top scorer, but actually seeing it transpire was a whole other level.
This was one of the few games this season where head coach Andy Toole took a harsh tone with his teams performance. Some quotes from his press conference:
Obviously, it was going to be tough to win without Pryor, but the message here was clear: #11 isn't playing, time to man up. The Colonials did not respond.
That's probably been the most disappointing aspect of this whole season. Personally, as a Mets, Jets and Knicks fan, I can handle losing. I've been taking L's my whole life. But there's nothing worse than seeing an unmotivated, uninterested team taking the floor.
Not to look too far ahead, but this brings up another point with recruiting. Does Toole & Co. try and get back to their core, finding tough, hard-nosed competitors to bring in? The top players, in years past, all have shared a few common traits. From Velton Jones, to Karvel Anderson, to Anthony Myers-Pate, to Lucky Jones, those guys were tough SOBs. They hated losing, and the rest of the team followed suit. That isn't too apparent on this team, at least not yet.
Ironically, I was saying the same thing last season. Although RMU got off to a better start in conference play, they were 8-10 through 18 games and had a nice stench of me-first basketball. That team, of course, proved everyone wrong, toughened up and won a championship.
Call me crazy, but with a healthy Pryor, I still think this team can do the same. I really do. I like the talent level of this team. They're good defenders. They're just not, as a group, tough. That's what it comes down to. They lose a lot of close games because that shell hasn't hardened. Maybe a few close wins can change that.
That, and of course, Rodney Pryor.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Preview: Mans Game Only
Robert Morris (3-14, 1-3) vs. Mount St. Mary's (6-11, 3-1)
When: Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Charles L. Sewall Center, Moon Township, PA
KenPom: RMU 271, Mount St. Mary's 267
KenPom Line: RMU -3
Link: NECFrontRow.com
Storyline: Robert Morris looks to steady the ship and stay in the NEC race as they take on rival Mount St. Mary's at the Chuck. The Colonials, 1-3 in the league, could fall three games behind the conference's top teams with a loss. This game is the front end of back-to-back home game against teams with a current record of 3-1 in the NEC (the other being FDU, Saturday at 4pm).
Bring It: Toughness, consistency and attention to detail: Andy Toole probably mutters these words in his sleep. It's been the Colonials Achilles heel all season long. When such big factors are against you, you tend to come up short most games. Robert Morris is 3 and 14. Look at most of the scores...RMU is right there. They lost their first two games by a combined seven points (and led most of the game vs Sacred Heart) and were down only three points with under a minute to go against St. Francis. They still have yet to put together a full 40 minute game, and it's cost them dearly.
The team is certainly young, and has been banged up (news came out this week that senior Aaron Tate, the teams MVP last year, may take a medical redshirt and miss the rest of the season) but it's now mid-January. It's time to toughen up, and get things straightened out. Talent is not the issue. RMU has one of the conferences best players in Rodney Pryor, one of the best forwards in Elijah Minnie, and a very good veteran point guard in Kavon Stewart. The supporting cast is not as talented as years past, but it is still formidable.
So what remedy can the Colonials find to fix such a problem? How about a punch you in the mouth game against a hated rival? It could be just what the doctor ordered.
(Side note: Bring the heat Colonial Crazies. Let's not forget these 2014 comments by the Mount color man.)
Keys to the Game:
1) Get some easy buckets. If there is one ray of hope on the horizon, it's the continued good play from Kavon Stewart. He's been asked to do a lot more this season, and is starting to carry his weight. He'll be under attack against the pressure defense of MSM, but has shown in the past he can break it and get RMU some easy buckets in transition. The Colonials sure do need it too, as they rank 325th in offense efficiency this season. Ouch.
2) Rebound. Gotta grab the ball and limit second chance opportunities. It cost the Colonials a game Saturday in Brooklyn.
3) Finish. Whether it's Rodney Pryor getting hot, Elijah Minnie carrying the team, to someone else stepping up as the game comes down to the wire, someone needs to step up and help Robert Morris finish strong. I won't say this is a must win, because even at 3-14, it's hard to have "must win" games this early in the season in a one bid league. Still, the team really needs this one, if only for a major confidence boost. Who's going to step up?
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
When: Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Charles L. Sewall Center, Moon Township, PA
KenPom: RMU 271, Mount St. Mary's 267
KenPom Line: RMU -3
Link: NECFrontRow.com
Storyline: Robert Morris looks to steady the ship and stay in the NEC race as they take on rival Mount St. Mary's at the Chuck. The Colonials, 1-3 in the league, could fall three games behind the conference's top teams with a loss. This game is the front end of back-to-back home game against teams with a current record of 3-1 in the NEC (the other being FDU, Saturday at 4pm).
Bring It: Toughness, consistency and attention to detail: Andy Toole probably mutters these words in his sleep. It's been the Colonials Achilles heel all season long. When such big factors are against you, you tend to come up short most games. Robert Morris is 3 and 14. Look at most of the scores...RMU is right there. They lost their first two games by a combined seven points (and led most of the game vs Sacred Heart) and were down only three points with under a minute to go against St. Francis. They still have yet to put together a full 40 minute game, and it's cost them dearly.
The team is certainly young, and has been banged up (news came out this week that senior Aaron Tate, the teams MVP last year, may take a medical redshirt and miss the rest of the season) but it's now mid-January. It's time to toughen up, and get things straightened out. Talent is not the issue. RMU has one of the conferences best players in Rodney Pryor, one of the best forwards in Elijah Minnie, and a very good veteran point guard in Kavon Stewart. The supporting cast is not as talented as years past, but it is still formidable.
So what remedy can the Colonials find to fix such a problem? How about a punch you in the mouth game against a hated rival? It could be just what the doctor ordered.
(Side note: Bring the heat Colonial Crazies. Let's not forget these 2014 comments by the Mount color man.)
Keys to the Game:
1) Get some easy buckets. If there is one ray of hope on the horizon, it's the continued good play from Kavon Stewart. He's been asked to do a lot more this season, and is starting to carry his weight. He'll be under attack against the pressure defense of MSM, but has shown in the past he can break it and get RMU some easy buckets in transition. The Colonials sure do need it too, as they rank 325th in offense efficiency this season. Ouch.
2) Rebound. Gotta grab the ball and limit second chance opportunities. It cost the Colonials a game Saturday in Brooklyn.
3) Finish. Whether it's Rodney Pryor getting hot, Elijah Minnie carrying the team, to someone else stepping up as the game comes down to the wire, someone needs to step up and help Robert Morris finish strong. I won't say this is a must win, because even at 3-14, it's hard to have "must win" games this early in the season in a one bid league. Still, the team really needs this one, if only for a major confidence boost. Who's going to step up?
--Lee Kunkel
--@Kunkel5
Monday, January 11, 2016
Robert Morris offense struggling for answers
Between losing Lucky Jones and Marcquise Reed, it wasn't hard to predict that the Robert Morris offense was going to struggle in the early part of the season.
It was hard to put in pen what guys like point guard Kavon Stewart and power forward Elijah Minnie were going to give you on a night in, night out basis. Between that, the new additions of Isaiah Still, Matty McConnell, Billy Giles and Joe Hugley and the injury to Aaron Tate, the offense was an unknown. Rodney Pryor was the only player to count on to get buckets.
Well, it's almost the middle of January, and a lot of things are still unknown. Tate still isn't playing, with a comeback looking more bleak by the day. Hugley quit. Still and McConnell are still finding their way and Stewart and Minnie have been pretty inconsistent.
Fans to love to point at the defense as RMU's biggest struggle. The 2-3 zone is a bit unconventional and not "the Robert Morris way" but there's no denying its effectiveness. The Colonials have ranked top-three in conference defensive efficiency the past two seasons with the zone, and are on pace for that again this season.
What fans are not used to seeing is incompetent offense, which has been the case for RMU this season. Through four conference games, the Colonials efficiency numbers have actually gotten worse. RMU is currently scoring a woeful 90.7-points-per-100-possessions in NEC play, dead-last in the conference. Robert Morris ranks 321 in the country in offensive efficiency.
So yes, Robert Morris' offense stinks, but that's a pretty blanket statement. Anyone with a set of eyes could tell you that. What the hell is going on out there? Why is the offense unable to put the ball in the basket?
First, let's start with the numbers. Robert Morris still can't protect the basketball. Head coach Andy Toole has spoke in the past about "valuing the basketball". That's something this team doesn't do. They turn the ball over about 23 percent of their possessions, third-worst in the NEC. The frustrating thing is, while there are a lot of "forced" turnovers, i.e. throwing the ball to the wrong team or getting your pocket picked, there seem to be a lot of unforced turnovers.
Things like travels, illegal screens and charges can all be cut down on. It takes a little more focus and discipline, but these are basketball basics. Dribble before you move your feet, guys.
This is also not a good rebounding team. It kills them on the defensive end, where opponents are rebounding about 40 percent of their misses, but it hurts even more on the offensive end. For a team that struggles to get buckets, a few more offensive putbacks could go a long way.
ESPN's Zach Lowe wrote this article on the stresses of offensive rebounding and transition defense in the NBA. The gist of the article is less NBA teams are sacrificing crashing the glass to get back on defense. RMU is rebounding about 25 percent of their misses, which is 297 in the country and second-worst in the NEC. I'd love to know if that's the direction RMU is going, but my educated guess is its not. RMU isn't a big team, and a guy like Andre Fredrick, playing around 15 minutes per game at center, is a terrible rebounder.
The core of the offensive problems is what anyone can see: there just aren't a lot of good scorers. Rodney Pryor is excellent, but even he's shooting just 31.3 percent from three, way down from the 40 percent he shot last season.
RMU's second and third leading scorers, respectively, are Elijah Minnie (12.3 ppg) and Kavon Stewart (8.5 ppg). Minnie has been good this year; he scores in spurts, is reliable from three and has the size to make an impact on the glass an finish at the rim.
If there is one critique of Minnie, it might be adding that extra dimension to his game. Minnie is so good at the rim -- he's shooting 61.7 percent at the rim -- but only 27 percent of his shots come at the rim, according to hoop math. Minnie is a good free throw shooter too. Even when he doesn't finish at the rim, if he can draw a foul and get an opposing big in trouble, that's really beneficial for the outcome of the game.
Stewart is another case. There's definitely an 80/20 theory at case, as in people like to look at the 20 percent bad and ignore the 80 percent good. With that being said, I'm not sure a lot of people were counting on him to be the third leading scorer. Hell, I'm not even sure it's a good thing when Stewart is scoring in bunches. What does that say about the game others are playing?
Still, this team is what it is, and Stewart needs to find something to excel at offensively. More than half (54 percent) of his shots are coming at the rim, but his field goal percentage at the rim is just 37 percent. That's the worst mark on the team. A lot of people hoped Stewart would be able to develop finishing with both hands at the rim, but that hasn't been the case. He's still all-left when driving. That makes it hard to finish in traffic when you always have to finish with one hand. Right now, his 33/32/56 splits just aren't good enough.
That really goes for everyone. McConnell and Still are both shooting around 30 percent from three, despite taking about four a game. McConnell has especially been one-dimensional, taking just 15 shots from the field. His inability, or unwillingness, to go to the rim doesn't do anyone favors.
Also, You Gotta Make Your Free Throws. Holy shit, this is a bad free throw shooting team. As a team, they're shooting 64.9 percent from the line. They're free throws. They're supposed to be free points. This team puts a bad spin on the term "charity stripe".
Listen, we're 17 games into the year, and Robert Morris has won just three of them. Things will probably improve, just through experience and coaching, but at some point you are who your numbers say you are. RMU has played some good teams in and out of conference play and they're still good enough to make a run at an NEC title, but unless the Colonials can become an average offensive team, the losses will continue to pile up.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
It was hard to put in pen what guys like point guard Kavon Stewart and power forward Elijah Minnie were going to give you on a night in, night out basis. Between that, the new additions of Isaiah Still, Matty McConnell, Billy Giles and Joe Hugley and the injury to Aaron Tate, the offense was an unknown. Rodney Pryor was the only player to count on to get buckets.
Well, it's almost the middle of January, and a lot of things are still unknown. Tate still isn't playing, with a comeback looking more bleak by the day. Hugley quit. Still and McConnell are still finding their way and Stewart and Minnie have been pretty inconsistent.
Fans to love to point at the defense as RMU's biggest struggle. The 2-3 zone is a bit unconventional and not "the Robert Morris way" but there's no denying its effectiveness. The Colonials have ranked top-three in conference defensive efficiency the past two seasons with the zone, and are on pace for that again this season.
What fans are not used to seeing is incompetent offense, which has been the case for RMU this season. Through four conference games, the Colonials efficiency numbers have actually gotten worse. RMU is currently scoring a woeful 90.7-points-per-100-possessions in NEC play, dead-last in the conference. Robert Morris ranks 321 in the country in offensive efficiency.
So yes, Robert Morris' offense stinks, but that's a pretty blanket statement. Anyone with a set of eyes could tell you that. What the hell is going on out there? Why is the offense unable to put the ball in the basket?
First, let's start with the numbers. Robert Morris still can't protect the basketball. Head coach Andy Toole has spoke in the past about "valuing the basketball". That's something this team doesn't do. They turn the ball over about 23 percent of their possessions, third-worst in the NEC. The frustrating thing is, while there are a lot of "forced" turnovers, i.e. throwing the ball to the wrong team or getting your pocket picked, there seem to be a lot of unforced turnovers.
Things like travels, illegal screens and charges can all be cut down on. It takes a little more focus and discipline, but these are basketball basics. Dribble before you move your feet, guys.
This is also not a good rebounding team. It kills them on the defensive end, where opponents are rebounding about 40 percent of their misses, but it hurts even more on the offensive end. For a team that struggles to get buckets, a few more offensive putbacks could go a long way.
ESPN's Zach Lowe wrote this article on the stresses of offensive rebounding and transition defense in the NBA. The gist of the article is less NBA teams are sacrificing crashing the glass to get back on defense. RMU is rebounding about 25 percent of their misses, which is 297 in the country and second-worst in the NEC. I'd love to know if that's the direction RMU is going, but my educated guess is its not. RMU isn't a big team, and a guy like Andre Fredrick, playing around 15 minutes per game at center, is a terrible rebounder.
The core of the offensive problems is what anyone can see: there just aren't a lot of good scorers. Rodney Pryor is excellent, but even he's shooting just 31.3 percent from three, way down from the 40 percent he shot last season.
RMU's second and third leading scorers, respectively, are Elijah Minnie (12.3 ppg) and Kavon Stewart (8.5 ppg). Minnie has been good this year; he scores in spurts, is reliable from three and has the size to make an impact on the glass an finish at the rim.
If there is one critique of Minnie, it might be adding that extra dimension to his game. Minnie is so good at the rim -- he's shooting 61.7 percent at the rim -- but only 27 percent of his shots come at the rim, according to hoop math. Minnie is a good free throw shooter too. Even when he doesn't finish at the rim, if he can draw a foul and get an opposing big in trouble, that's really beneficial for the outcome of the game.
Stewart is another case. There's definitely an 80/20 theory at case, as in people like to look at the 20 percent bad and ignore the 80 percent good. With that being said, I'm not sure a lot of people were counting on him to be the third leading scorer. Hell, I'm not even sure it's a good thing when Stewart is scoring in bunches. What does that say about the game others are playing?
Still, this team is what it is, and Stewart needs to find something to excel at offensively. More than half (54 percent) of his shots are coming at the rim, but his field goal percentage at the rim is just 37 percent. That's the worst mark on the team. A lot of people hoped Stewart would be able to develop finishing with both hands at the rim, but that hasn't been the case. He's still all-left when driving. That makes it hard to finish in traffic when you always have to finish with one hand. Right now, his 33/32/56 splits just aren't good enough.
That really goes for everyone. McConnell and Still are both shooting around 30 percent from three, despite taking about four a game. McConnell has especially been one-dimensional, taking just 15 shots from the field. His inability, or unwillingness, to go to the rim doesn't do anyone favors.
Also, You Gotta Make Your Free Throws. Holy shit, this is a bad free throw shooting team. As a team, they're shooting 64.9 percent from the line. They're free throws. They're supposed to be free points. This team puts a bad spin on the term "charity stripe".
Listen, we're 17 games into the year, and Robert Morris has won just three of them. Things will probably improve, just through experience and coaching, but at some point you are who your numbers say you are. RMU has played some good teams in and out of conference play and they're still good enough to make a run at an NEC title, but unless the Colonials can become an average offensive team, the losses will continue to pile up.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Team effort? Things came together a little at LIU
Robert Morris was able to get win number three after defeating LIU Brooklyn 70-60 Thursday night. It was the Colonials first conference win of the season after losing their first two at home to Sacred Heart and Wagner.
Robert Morris did a lot well Thursday. They won the rebounding margin, shot 42.9 percent from the floor, 40.0 percent from three and had 13 assists to 24 made baskets, a big improvement from what we've seen in the past. The 16 turnovers was a high amount, but 13 of those came in the first half. When they had to clean up the turnovers, they did.
Rodney Pryor paced the Colonials with 21 points on 7-14 shooting. He collected 11 boards in the process.
Pryor was great, but unlike most games, Robert Morris was able to close out the game with other contributions, a big stepping stone in a season that still has potential.
Pryor's three with 9:40 remaining gave RMU a 52-51 lead. From there, the Colonials finished the game on an 18-9 run, with Pryor not scoring again until there were 29 seconds left.
The real stretch run started with 4:36 remaining. Elijah Minnie, who was held to just five points up to that point, hit back-to-back three's to stretch RMU's lead. It was a typical Minnie play. On one, the defense played too far off of him and he was able to knock down a good look. The next possession, he popped off a pick and roll and hit it.
Minnie wasn't done, putting the icing on the cake with this monster slam with 1:18 left.
Between that time, Isaiah Still, who has been up and down in his freshman campaign, hit a tough shot in the corner for three, assisted by Kavon Stewart. Stewart wasn't great, but he was aggressive all game, a big key for RMU moving forward. Stewart is the type of guy who can win a game without scoring, just by keeping a defense honest.
Stewart's free throw shooting is still a concern. He's a great defender to close games, and he is the team's best ball handler, but that can be a dangerous mix when he's asked to ice games hitting free throws. He went just 2-7 from the line Thursday. He's on pace to have his worst free throw shooting percentage of his career (currently at 58 percent).
Don't dismiss Matty McConnell's contribution to the game. McConnell is establishing himself as the team's most active defender. In a three point game with 2:32 remaining, McConnell had a block and a steal in back-to-back possessions. RMU gave up just nine points over the final ten minutes of the game.
RMU will need that effort moving forward. Head coach Andy Toole noted in his postgame interview that he saw more guys hitting the floor for loose balls Thursday than any other game combined. Hyperbole? Maybe, but it's a good starting point.
Who knows if Thursday was just a flash in the pan. Robert Morris will play St. Francis Brooklyn Saturday afternoon. They're better than the Terriers, but it wouldn't surprise me to see RMU feeling too good about Thursday's win and come out flat. It's hard for young teams to build off that success. Let's see if the Colonials answer.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Robert Morris did a lot well Thursday. They won the rebounding margin, shot 42.9 percent from the floor, 40.0 percent from three and had 13 assists to 24 made baskets, a big improvement from what we've seen in the past. The 16 turnovers was a high amount, but 13 of those came in the first half. When they had to clean up the turnovers, they did.
Rodney Pryor paced the Colonials with 21 points on 7-14 shooting. He collected 11 boards in the process.
Pryor was great, but unlike most games, Robert Morris was able to close out the game with other contributions, a big stepping stone in a season that still has potential.
Pryor's three with 9:40 remaining gave RMU a 52-51 lead. From there, the Colonials finished the game on an 18-9 run, with Pryor not scoring again until there were 29 seconds left.
The real stretch run started with 4:36 remaining. Elijah Minnie, who was held to just five points up to that point, hit back-to-back three's to stretch RMU's lead. It was a typical Minnie play. On one, the defense played too far off of him and he was able to knock down a good look. The next possession, he popped off a pick and roll and hit it.
Minnie wasn't done, putting the icing on the cake with this monster slam with 1:18 left.
Between that time, Isaiah Still, who has been up and down in his freshman campaign, hit a tough shot in the corner for three, assisted by Kavon Stewart. Stewart wasn't great, but he was aggressive all game, a big key for RMU moving forward. Stewart is the type of guy who can win a game without scoring, just by keeping a defense honest.
Stewart's free throw shooting is still a concern. He's a great defender to close games, and he is the team's best ball handler, but that can be a dangerous mix when he's asked to ice games hitting free throws. He went just 2-7 from the line Thursday. He's on pace to have his worst free throw shooting percentage of his career (currently at 58 percent).
Don't dismiss Matty McConnell's contribution to the game. McConnell is establishing himself as the team's most active defender. In a three point game with 2:32 remaining, McConnell had a block and a steal in back-to-back possessions. RMU gave up just nine points over the final ten minutes of the game.
RMU will need that effort moving forward. Head coach Andy Toole noted in his postgame interview that he saw more guys hitting the floor for loose balls Thursday than any other game combined. Hyperbole? Maybe, but it's a good starting point.
Who knows if Thursday was just a flash in the pan. Robert Morris will play St. Francis Brooklyn Saturday afternoon. They're better than the Terriers, but it wouldn't surprise me to see RMU feeling too good about Thursday's win and come out flat. It's hard for young teams to build off that success. Let's see if the Colonials answer.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Friday, January 8, 2016
Friday Pod: Stephen Gertz
Chris Cappella and Stephen Gertz get back on the Friday podcast grind, talking about Robert Morris' win over Long Island, the biggest overarching concerns the team still has, sleep schedules, over/unders and bench mobs.
To listen, click here.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
To listen, click here.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Thursday, January 7, 2016
What to watch for: Robert Morris at Long Island
Robert Morris makes their first roadtrip of the conference season, starting tonight at LIU Brooklyn. The Blackbirds are 7-6 on the year, went 1-1 last weekend and are favored by KenPom to win by four points.
LIU's three-headed attack isn't quite what RMU's monster of Marcquise Reed, Lucky Jones and Rodney Pryor were, but forward Jerome Frink (16.8 ppg), SG Martin Hermannsson (15.5 ppg) and PG Aakim Saintil (13.6 ppg) have been excellent this year.
Frink is the alpha dog -- think of what Jeremiah Worthem was going to be, and that's what Frink is. He uses his big, 6-foot-7, 230 pound frame to get good looks with his back to the basket and rebound. At the same time, you have to keep your hand up at the three point line: Frink is shooting 34 percent from downtown this year.
Still, Hermannsson and Saintil have been good, if not a little unexpected, surprises. Hermannsson is building off a strong freshman year, establishing himself as one of the better shooters in the conference. He's gotten good enough that I don't have to look up how to spell his last name anymore. He's shooting 42.5 percent from three this year.
Saintil was a complete unknown coming into the year. Many, myself included, thought finding a point guard might hold a talented LIU team back. Instead, Saintil is one of the biggest reasons the Blackbirds are winning. While not a *great* shooter, he gets to the line a lot, is a pesky defender (34th best steal percentage in the country) and has great court vision. He's been as good as any point guard in the conference.
If there's one weakness of some key LIU players, it's their foul rates. Frink, Saintil, Nura Zanna, Trevin Woods, Trevon Woods and Glen Feindanga all have pretty high fouls committed per 40 minute splits.
This is bad news for Robert Morris, who has the 15th-worst turnover percentage in the entire country.
If there was ever a game for Rodney Pryor and Matty McConnell to find it from three at the same time for 40 minutes, this would be it.
One bright spot for the Colonials through two conference games has been Kavon Stewart. In his last two games, he's 12-19 from the floor, 3-4 from three and has dished out 13 assists to seven turnovers. RMU needs to take advantage of his solid play. It feels like they need one more player to assert themselves as another go-to guy.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
LIU's three-headed attack isn't quite what RMU's monster of Marcquise Reed, Lucky Jones and Rodney Pryor were, but forward Jerome Frink (16.8 ppg), SG Martin Hermannsson (15.5 ppg) and PG Aakim Saintil (13.6 ppg) have been excellent this year.
Frink is the alpha dog -- think of what Jeremiah Worthem was going to be, and that's what Frink is. He uses his big, 6-foot-7, 230 pound frame to get good looks with his back to the basket and rebound. At the same time, you have to keep your hand up at the three point line: Frink is shooting 34 percent from downtown this year.
Still, Hermannsson and Saintil have been good, if not a little unexpected, surprises. Hermannsson is building off a strong freshman year, establishing himself as one of the better shooters in the conference. He's gotten good enough that I don't have to look up how to spell his last name anymore. He's shooting 42.5 percent from three this year.
Saintil was a complete unknown coming into the year. Many, myself included, thought finding a point guard might hold a talented LIU team back. Instead, Saintil is one of the biggest reasons the Blackbirds are winning. While not a *great* shooter, he gets to the line a lot, is a pesky defender (34th best steal percentage in the country) and has great court vision. He's been as good as any point guard in the conference.
If there's one weakness of some key LIU players, it's their foul rates. Frink, Saintil, Nura Zanna, Trevin Woods, Trevon Woods and Glen Feindanga all have pretty high fouls committed per 40 minute splits.
Biggest strength: causing problems on defense
LIU has the 52nd-best turnover percentage in the country. They have a few heady defenders with quick hands at the top, some versatile small forwards and some intimidating big men. Between the athleticism and high IQ, the turnovers can pour it on.This is bad news for Robert Morris, who has the 15th-worst turnover percentage in the entire country.
Something to take advantage of: the three point line
Robert Morris could control this game from the three point line. LIU doesn't shoot the three ball well (outside of Hermannsson) and doesn't defend the three well either. Teams have shot 37.5 percent from three this year against LIU.If there was ever a game for Rodney Pryor and Matty McConnell to find it from three at the same time for 40 minutes, this would be it.
Outlook
Robert Morris desperately needs a win, but this is going to be a tough matchup. LIU has two guys who can beat you down low (Frink, Zanna), and elite rim defender (Zanna again) and one of the best backcourts in the league.One bright spot for the Colonials through two conference games has been Kavon Stewart. In his last two games, he's 12-19 from the floor, 3-4 from three and has dished out 13 assists to seven turnovers. RMU needs to take advantage of his solid play. It feels like they need one more player to assert themselves as another go-to guy.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Close ain't cutting anything
Robert Morris is 2-13 on the season. Of those 13 losses, eight have come by ten points or less. RMU has lost one game in overtime (at New Mexico State), and two more (at Penn, vs. Wagner) with a chance to tie or win at the buzzer.
It's been an excruciatingly painful way to spend a year, especially when you consider how spoiled the program has been over the years by great players and teams finding a way to win tight ballgames. RMU's 2-8 record in games decided by ten points or less is bad, but can't be completely unexpected in context.
Last year's Lucky Jones, Marcquise Reed and (to an extent) David Appolon minutes have largely been replaced with freshman Matty McConnell, Isiah Still, Steven Whitley and Jordan Lester. There's something to be said for what was lost in the experience and toughness category.
Jones, Reed and Appolon weren't perfect, but they at least knew what they were doing and brought something to the table. Reed was an efficient scorer from all over the floor with one of the top steal rates in the country. Jones was an elite defender and a swiss army knife offensive player who could get streaky from three and got to the line about five times a game. Appolon was a reliable ball handler and solid defender.
It's hard to say any of the freshman do anything too well. We think Matty McConnell is going to be a good shooter, but then you see he's averaging 5.7 ppg on 30/28/77 splits and it makes you think otherwise. The same goes for Still, who does rebound at a higher rate but is also averaging 7.4 ppg on just 33/30/60 splits.
Don't think for a second this team doesn't miss Aaron Tate either. It's easy to look at the losses of Reed and Jones and pinpoint as the biggest reason for RMU's struggles. It wouldn't be wrong, but not complete either. Tate was one of the team's best rebounders and best interior defender. He was also one of the team's toughest, most well-respected players. When RMU's season was going down in shambles last year, it was Tate's tip-in at the buzzer to help Robert Morris defeat Central Connecticut State. Without that win, Robert Morris goes on the road in the NEC semifinals instead of getting another home game.
It's the little things like that that this team needs. A lot of people will tell you that winning close games is as much about luck as it is skill. In some ways, that's true. A bounce here, a roll there, and Robert Morris is 7-8 instead of 2-13. Still, it can't all be about skill; Rodney Pryor has been dominant in a lot of the games he played this year, but that dominance hasn't translated to wins.
Like most sports debates, there's a happy medium between advanced statistics and no statistics at all. Yes, winning close games, to an extent, is "luck", but I truly do believe talent wins out way more often than not. Last year's team went 10-8 in games decided by ten points or less. The year before that, the "crazy 8" team, went 17-6.
There's nothing lucky about winning 17 close games. They won those games because Karvel Anderson was one of the 25 best players in college basketball that year, there were two ball handlers, a plethora of three point shooters and they were the best defensive team in the conference. That's not luck. That's being better than your opponent.
The same goes for this team. There's not a lot that's unlucky about losing close games. On their best day, Robert Morris is an average defensive team that goes through stretches of mental lapses. On their absolute best day, they're an average offensive team. On a normal day, they're really bad offensively. Outside of Pryor, there's no one to really rely on.
Part of what made those past teams so great was their experience and toughness. Those things aren't always mutually exclusive, but one usually does come from the other. This team does not have that luxury. They're not experienced, and they're not tough, either. It shows in a lot of aspects. Bad offense affects defense and vice versa. They don't know how to close games. Situational offense hasn't looked the best.
Experience isn't something you buy or recruit, it's something you develop. If this group can stick it out, it'll pay off.
Maybe not this year, but down the road, it'll pay off.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
It's been an excruciatingly painful way to spend a year, especially when you consider how spoiled the program has been over the years by great players and teams finding a way to win tight ballgames. RMU's 2-8 record in games decided by ten points or less is bad, but can't be completely unexpected in context.
Last year's Lucky Jones, Marcquise Reed and (to an extent) David Appolon minutes have largely been replaced with freshman Matty McConnell, Isiah Still, Steven Whitley and Jordan Lester. There's something to be said for what was lost in the experience and toughness category.
Jones, Reed and Appolon weren't perfect, but they at least knew what they were doing and brought something to the table. Reed was an efficient scorer from all over the floor with one of the top steal rates in the country. Jones was an elite defender and a swiss army knife offensive player who could get streaky from three and got to the line about five times a game. Appolon was a reliable ball handler and solid defender.
It's hard to say any of the freshman do anything too well. We think Matty McConnell is going to be a good shooter, but then you see he's averaging 5.7 ppg on 30/28/77 splits and it makes you think otherwise. The same goes for Still, who does rebound at a higher rate but is also averaging 7.4 ppg on just 33/30/60 splits.
Don't think for a second this team doesn't miss Aaron Tate either. It's easy to look at the losses of Reed and Jones and pinpoint as the biggest reason for RMU's struggles. It wouldn't be wrong, but not complete either. Tate was one of the team's best rebounders and best interior defender. He was also one of the team's toughest, most well-respected players. When RMU's season was going down in shambles last year, it was Tate's tip-in at the buzzer to help Robert Morris defeat Central Connecticut State. Without that win, Robert Morris goes on the road in the NEC semifinals instead of getting another home game.
It's the little things like that that this team needs. A lot of people will tell you that winning close games is as much about luck as it is skill. In some ways, that's true. A bounce here, a roll there, and Robert Morris is 7-8 instead of 2-13. Still, it can't all be about skill; Rodney Pryor has been dominant in a lot of the games he played this year, but that dominance hasn't translated to wins.
Like most sports debates, there's a happy medium between advanced statistics and no statistics at all. Yes, winning close games, to an extent, is "luck", but I truly do believe talent wins out way more often than not. Last year's team went 10-8 in games decided by ten points or less. The year before that, the "crazy 8" team, went 17-6.
There's nothing lucky about winning 17 close games. They won those games because Karvel Anderson was one of the 25 best players in college basketball that year, there were two ball handlers, a plethora of three point shooters and they were the best defensive team in the conference. That's not luck. That's being better than your opponent.
The same goes for this team. There's not a lot that's unlucky about losing close games. On their best day, Robert Morris is an average defensive team that goes through stretches of mental lapses. On their absolute best day, they're an average offensive team. On a normal day, they're really bad offensively. Outside of Pryor, there's no one to really rely on.
Part of what made those past teams so great was their experience and toughness. Those things aren't always mutually exclusive, but one usually does come from the other. This team does not have that luxury. They're not experienced, and they're not tough, either. It shows in a lot of aspects. Bad offense affects defense and vice versa. They don't know how to close games. Situational offense hasn't looked the best.
Experience isn't something you buy or recruit, it's something you develop. If this group can stick it out, it'll pay off.
Maybe not this year, but down the road, it'll pay off.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
Saturday, January 2, 2016
What to watch for: NEC opens play
It's the most wonderful time of the year. The NEC opens up conference play Saturday.
Slate of games:
There are some really good matchups to start 2016, all of which can be found on NEC Front Row.
-LIU Brooklyn at Mount St. Mary's
-Central Connecticut State at Bryant
-Wagner at St. Francis PA
-Sacred Heart at Robert Morris
-Fairleigh Dickinson at St. Francis Brooklyn
LIU Brooklyn at Mount St. Mary's is a 2 p.m. tip. SFC vs. FDU is a 4:30 p.m. tip. The rest of the games start at 4 p.m.
The early game might be the best game of the day. You could make the argument that LIU looks like the best team in the conference through 11 games. They went 6-5, with four of those losses coming by a combined 23 points.
It's not just the scores, but the Blackbirds look like they have some serious NEC talent. Aakim Saintil might be the best point guard in the conference. FIU transfer Jerome Frink might be the best forward in the conference. Sophomore guard Martin Hermannsson could push for the 50/40/90 club in confernce play.
Mount St. Mary's, of course, was the preseason number one as voted by the coaches. They went 3-10 in non-conference play, at times looking like the team everyone expected before losing a few bad ones the past two weeks. They enter today's game on a four game losing streak.
Mount St. Mary's is four point favorites, according to KenPom.
Wagner at St. Francis PA should be another good one. Wagner went a surprising 7-4 in non-conference play, and did it mostly because of the emergence of guard Corey Henson. Wagner is also proving to be one of the better defensive teams in the country.
St. Francis PA went 4-7 in non-conference action, but did play a much tougher schedule. The matchup to watch in that one is SFU's Ronnie Drinnon vs. Wagner's Mike Aaman. Aaman was a beast in NEC play last season, proving to be one of the few guys with a legitimate post game. He'll try an emulate that success again after a bad start to the year.
St. Francis PA is favored by one point, according to KenPom.
Finally, the headliner (at least for the purpose of this blog) is Robert Morris vs. Sacred Heart.
Tale of the tape
Robert Morris (2-11) vs. SHU (1-10)
KenPom: RMU 275, Sacred Heart 286
KenPom Line: RMU-5
Sacred Heart is led by sophomore combo-guard Cane Broome. Broome leads the team in minutes (37.1), points (19.9 ppg), assists (3.0), steals (1.8) and is second in rebounds (5.1). When you're talking about the five best players in the conference, Broome is one of them.
SHU does not defend the three point line well. Opponents are shooting 39.6 percent as a team, 322 in the country. That's a big advantage for Robert Morris. Outside of Brome, they don't really have another go-to scorer. Guards Jordan Allen (12.2 ppg) and Quincy McKnight (11.2 ppg) are second and third on the team in scoring, respectively.
This doesn't mean RMU can sleep on SHU's forwards. Tevin Falzon is a proven veteran who will play with a ton of energy, block shots and rebound the hell out of the ball. New Mexico State transfer forward Matej Buovac is coming off his best game of the year on Dec. 28 at Hofstra, where he had six points and eight boards. He can shoot it from three, too.
The Colonials also have this going for them:
This is one Robert Morris should get. They're more talented, but a lot of their efforts have to go towards slowing Broome.
Predictions:
--Chris Cappella
This isn't your 2014 Robert Morris
It's probably not a stretch to say this is the worst basketball played by Robert Morris under Andy Toole. It's not just the 2-11 record, because any mid-major school that frontloads non-conference play with tough school can go 2-11. It's the manner the losses have accumulated.
That's not to say this isn't new territory. Last year, RMU started the season 4-8 and lost to North Carolina by 44, Georgetown by 16 and Buffalo by 15. That's not unlike this season, where the Colonials lost to Cincinnati by 62, Oakland by 16 and Georgia by 12.
The difference, of course, is Robert Morris was unable to win some of those "winnable" games. Looking at the schedule in the preseason, which is useless but still fun to do, you probably could have made the case that Penn, Tennessee Tech, Mississippi Valley State, Youngstown State, Lehigh and Duquesne were all games to win.
RMU won just two of those.
There are a few overarching concerns when looking at this year's team compared to last. Last year's team had two very established scorers at this point in the year with Marcquise Reed and Rodney Pryor. When Lucky Jones was feeling it, he was a very good third-wheel.
That team had an identity in those three guys, and they balanced each other well. Reed was an attacker who got to the rim at well. Pryor was better from three and could create for himself with a mid-range jump shot. Jones was somewhere in-between, plus added a component of rebounding and defense that the current version of Robert Morris could really use. Those three, plus great play from Aaron Tate and some help from the likes of Kavon Stewart and Elijah Minnie made them a well-rounded team.
The buzz words from last year's team were "energy", "effort" and "competitiveness"; as in, that team didn't have it. There wasn't really ever a doubt in the talent level, it was just a matter of if the team could gel and give a shit about winning games. Obviously, those things eventually happened.
I think it's fair to at least question the overall talent level on this Robert Morris team. That happens when two of the team's three most talented players left (Reed to Clemson, Jones to graduation) and Tate hasn't played due to an injury.
This has left a lot, and I mean a lot, of inexperienced players to take those minutes. No one would expect anyone to come in and just do what those guys did, but the point remains that it leaves a gaping hole.
Heading into conference play, Robert Morris won't be successful until they find another knock down three point shooter and rim attacker. The obvious place to start is with Matty McConnell and Isaiah Still, who have those qualities but haven't put it together consistently.
When it comes to McConnell, it would be nice to see him be more aggressive and search for his shot a little more. He's not afraid to take some ridiculously long threes, but they usually come strictly from spot-up attempts. It's important for any guard to attack the rim to keep defenders honest. McConnell has done very little of that this year, attempting 48 three's to just 11 two-point shots.
That's not this team's only problem of course, but I still expect for some of the other things to sort themselves out in conference play. For example, RMU isn't ranked in the top 200 in defensive efficiency. they're ranked 292 in offensive efficiency. Playing lesser opponents may help that. Last year's team was average to below-average in a lot of efficiency categories, but then finished near the top of everything in NEC play.
There's a different feel from last year's team to this year's. If there are chemistry and competitive issues on this team, it's at least not out there publicly. Andy Toole was not shy about blasting last year's team for lack of effort. That hasn't been the case this season. There's been patience.
Even so, when it mattered most, last year's team was able to buckle down and get stops. They took advantage of big moments with a tremendous amount of energy. Can this year's team do the same?
It's time for conference play. There are no more excuses. It's time for the younger players to grow up and mature into their roles. Everyone has to play at a higher level to get back to the promise land. Despite starting at 2-11, the only thing that matters is peaking at the right time.
Last year's team did that. Who knows if this year's team is good enough.
--Chris Cappella
--@C_Cappella
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